One Eyed Reilly’s Daughter | A Wild Irish Ballad of Love, Brass Drums & Flying Pistols

 One Eyed Reilly’s Daughter — A Wild Irish Ballad of Love, Brass Drums & Flying Pistols

If you’ve ever sat in an Irish pub late into the night and heard the walls ring with roaring laughter, flying verses, and the occasional bang of a bodhrán — chances are, you’ve heard some version of One Eyed Reilly’s Daughter. It’s a raucous, light-hearted Irish ballad that plays like a comedy sketch with a rhythm, and it’s just as mad as it sounds.

At its heart, this is the story of a lad who falls for a girl — not just any girl, but the daughter of the formidable One-Eyed Reilly, a man with a bright red glittering eye, a love of the big brass drum, and an unpredictable temper. Of course, that doesn’t stop our hero. He’s smitten. He chats her up by the fire, imagines a life together, and before long, he’s down on one knee with a ring and a parson in tow.

But no good Irish tale unfolds without a twist. Reilly bursts onto the scene, pistols blazing, looking for the man who dared marry his daughter. What follows is pure pantomime — heads dunked in pails of water, shots fired in the air, and a hasty but oddly happy resolution. Somehow, the young couple end up living by the quay, with Reilly still storming about — swearing vengeance one minute, blessing his daughter the next.

The chorus says it all:
“Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye,
For the one-eyed Reilly,
Giddy I Aye, (bang, bang, bang)
Play it on your big brass drum!”

This new recording sticks to the spirit of the original but brings it to life with energy, bounce, and a traditional arrangement that leans on banjo, snare, and fiddle — just enough cheek without going too far into parody. It’s fast-paced, melodic, and just serious enough to make the absurdity feel real.

As with many Irish folk songs, there’s a mix of humour and heart under the surface. Reilly isn’t just a cartoon villain — he’s a father caught between pride and love. The daughter isn’t just a prize — she’s the woman everyone wants but only one brave (or foolish) soul dares to marry. And our narrator? He’s every young man who’s fallen in love and found himself face-to-face with the wrath of her Da.

Whether you’re here for a laugh, a singalong, or just to celebrate the madness that is Irish balladry — One Eyed Reilly’s Daughter delivers.

Slap it on, raise a pint, and bang the drum — Reilly’s watching.





LYRICS

As I was sitting by the fire, Talking to old Reilly's daughter Suddenly a thought came into my head: I'd like to marry old Reilly's daughter, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye For the one eyed Reilly, Giddy I Aye, (bang, bang, bang) Play it on your big brass drum. For Reilly played on the big brass drum Reilly had a mind for murder and slaughter, Reilly had a bright red gilttering eye, And he kept an eye on his lovely daughter. Her hair was black and her eyes were blue The colonel and the major and the captain sought her The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy, too But they never had a chance with O'Reilly's daughter. Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye For the one eyed Reilly, Giddy I Aye, (bang, bang, bang) Play it on your big brass drum. I got me a ring and a parson, too, I got me a 'scratch' in the married quarter Settled me down to a peaceful life, As happy as a king with O'Reilly's daughter. Suddenly a footstep on the stair, Who should it be but the one-eyed Reilly With two pistols in his hand Looking for the man who married his daughter. Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye For the one eyed Reilly, Giddy I Aye, (bang, bang, bang) Play it on your big brass drum. I took O'Reilly by the hair, Rammed his head in a pail of water, Fired his pistols in the air, A darned sight quicker than I married his daughter. Now we’re living by the quay, Reilly comes round when he’s no porter, Swears he’ll shoot me some day, But he always ends up blessing his own daughter. Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye, Giddy I Aye For the one eyed Reilly, Giddy I Aye, (bang, bang, bang) Play it on your big brass drum.


Location: Ireland

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